How to Install an Amp Breaker in a Circuit Box

Adding breakers to a service panel looks hard, but is very easy.

Adding a new circuit breaker to an existing breaker box may seem at first to be a daunting task. Just one look at all of the wires running every which way inside the box may cause some do-it-yourselfers to doubt their ability, but in reality, adding a new breaker is a simple job well within reach of most homeowners. In most cases, it is the easiest part of adding a new branch circuit to your home.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Wire cutters
• Circuit breaker

Instructions

1. Cut the power to the service panel by turning off the main breaker. The main breaker is separate from the branch breakers and is normally found at the top of the service panel. Flipping this breaker halts the flow of power to the entire house, so have a flashlight nearby.

2. Locate an empty slot for the new breaker. Available slots are usually covered by a metal plate that can be pried off with a screwdriver.

3. Finish wiring the circuit by running the electrical cable through the service panel's conduit--an opening at the side or top of the panel through which all of the wires are routed.

4. Remove the insulation from the ends of all of the wires: the black "hot" wire, the white neutral wire and, if necessary, the green ground wire.

5. Attach the neutral wire to the neutral bus bar. You can identify the neutral bar by its white color or by the white wires attached to it. Some boxes have several neutral bars.

6. Ground the circuit by attaching the ground wire to the ground bus bar. Look for a bar with green or bare wires attached to it.

7. Attach the black wire to the terminal on the circuit breaker and clip the breaker to the hot bus bar. It will snap into place, indicating a solid connection.

8. Restore power to the service panel.

References

• "The Big Book of Home How-To;" Better Homes and Gardens; 2003